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-A.IB.BOWEN. I HAND MAGHINE'POR APPLYING STAY WIRES T0 WIREHFENOES. No.'552,037'.- Patented De0'.24, 1895.

ATTORNEY.

ANDREW B GWJNm-UIHQWASKIIIGTUKEC UN ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMBROSE l3. BOIVEN, OF NORW'ALK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTIITO GEORGE II. MILLER, vOF SAME PLACE.

HAND-MACHINE FOR APPLYING STAY-WIRES TO WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,037, dated December 24, 1895.

Application filed 19, 1 3 9 5.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMBROSE B. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Machines for Applying Stay-\Vires to ire Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,.which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hand-machines for applying stay-wires to wire fences.

The object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive and practical apparatus for use in applying stay-wires to wire fences, adapted to engage and firmly hold the horizontal wires thereof a distance apart and free from sagging while the stay-wires are being applied thereto, all of which I will more fully explain hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my hand-machine as it appears when in use and attached to a wire fence. Fig. 2 is a View of a slotted plate or wire-twister.

Similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

A refers to a standard of the desired length and circular in cross-section and either hollow or solid, but preferably hollow, as apiece of gas-pipe.

13 represents either of two horizontal arms, one normally situated at or near either end of the standard A, which arms B are each provided with an enlarged circular end having hole I) therethrough adapted to encircle the standard A and are further provided with abend b, bifurcated end I), and thumbscrew b, and are adapted to revolve or be elevated or depressed on the standard A, as desired, and further adapted by means of the thumbscrew 12 to be rigidly secured to the standard A at any desired point or points thereon.

0 refers to an oscillating spacer, which is Serial No. 558,285. (No model.)

held in position by hinges O ,which are secured firmly to the standard A at points therein at or near its ends, and which spacer O is further provided with a series of wire-holdin g notches 0 formed in the outer edge thereof.

D represents a slotted plate or wire-twister having slot d and small hole (1 therein.

In operation each of the horizontal wires is first stretched tightly from post to post and fastened thereto-by means of staples or equivalent device in the usual manner. Then, after the arms B B of the machine have been adjusted to correspond to the gage of the fence the bifurcated ends Z) b thereof are placed intermediate of and so as to touch and slightly project beyond the extreme horizontal wires 1 1 of the fence, the lower end of the standard A now being allowed and limited to rest near or on the ground. On either side of the fence, with their ends resting in the bifurcated ends I) b of the arms B B, is then placed a short stay-wire 2, the upper ends of which are then fastened to the upper and the lower ends thereof to the lower horizontal wires 1 1 by means of the twister D, the hole d thereof being utilized for the purpose. By placing each horizontal wire 1 in the proper notch c of the series formed in the swinging spacer C the fence will be in condition to have the stay-wires 2 2 further applied thereon. The twister D is again to be made use of. The stay-wires 2 2 are caught in the slot 01 thereof and the twister turned until the now double-twisted wires 2 2 begin to unduly crowd an adjacent one 1, which operation is repeated between the adjacent wires 1 1 until such stay-wires 2 2 have been doubletwisted throughout their entire length.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the construction shown, as the device may be varied by substituting straight arms for the bent ones, and by using a stationary spacer instead of the oscillating one herein set forth, without departing from the spirit and purpose of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A hand machine for applying stay-wires to wire fences, consisting of a standard, havr00 ing arms with bifurcated ends adj ustably secured thereto; and having an oscillating spacer provided with a series of Wire-holding notches hinged to the standard; substantially as described.

2. A hand machine for applying stay-Wires to Wire fences, consisting of a standard, having horizontal arms with bent and bifurcated ends, removably secured thereto; and having a notched spacer hinged to the standard; substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a standard A, horizontal arms B, B, each provided with a bend b, forked end 12, and thumb screw 19; and a notched spacer C having hinges O, O; the parts be: ing combined substantially as described.

4:. A hand machine for applying stay Wires to Wire fences, consisting of a standard, and adjustable arms having bifurcated ends, combined with a spacer provided with Wire holding means, substantially as shown and described.

'In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

AMBROSE B. BOWEN. Witnesses:

FRANCES L. Roon, JOHN LAYLIN. 

